If I have a desire to be an officer in the Air Force, but they don't have a need for my degree for at least another year, should I enlist?

2018-02-09T10:52:18-05:00

I had a 3.8 in college with a BS in mathematics and scored very high on the AFOQT but they have no need for my degree at the moment and no guarantee that they will anytime soon, and therefore won't allow me to submit a packet. I'm a civilian interested in going into the Air Force and have been waiting for a while. Should I enlist and go that route or consider other branches?

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2018 11:05 AM

2018-02-09T11:05:13-05:00

Linda-I would suggest waiting. Once you raise your right hand, you're subject to the needs of the Air Force, and their priority won't likely be your future career as an officer. It might be several years before you've put yourself in a good position for OCS coming from the ranks, and even then...there will be new problems, hold-ups and delays. My advice? Don't sign anything for anyone, anywhere if it doesn't include a contract for OCS if your only goal is a commission. However, if you want to serve in any capacity initially, are willing to spend at least one enlistment whether it leads to OCS or not, and have a clear understanding of what that could mean...the Air Force may be a rewarding career choice whether you obtain a commission eventually or not. One of my SNCOs held two doctorates and had his own patent...from which he later enjoyed a very successful retirement.

Have you pursued OCS for other services?

Response by MAJ Alvin B. made Feb 9 at 2018 12:19 PM

2018-02-09T12:19:46-05:00

Look at all of your options for a commission, in every uniformed service and military branch. If you are interested in Grad School, there are commissioning programs tied to Law school and medical school. Do some research into all options. This would include potential commissioning programs in the guard and reserve. If you wish to receive a commission, enlisting now, may delay the opportunity. good luck!

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2018 12:19 PM

2018-02-09T12:19:54-05:00

Linda Hurley With your degree and high AFOQT score, I would consider the other branches before considering going enlisted. Thank you for wanting to serve our country. Please keep us posted on your decision. Good luck.

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Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Feb 9 at 2018 1:34 PM

2018-02-09T13:34:17-05:00

Don't waste your time with the Air Force Go Army and be an Engineer.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Feb 9 at 2018 3:18 PM

2018-02-09T15:18:31-05:00

Generally enlisted recruiters will tell you there are no officer billets to get you to enlist; this gives them points towards quotas (at least that is how it used to be although the official story line is different now).

You need to actually speak to an officer program recruiter before making any decisions. And further, what field do you want to serve in? You could for instance, become a Navy Nuclear Power Officer.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2018 6:00 PM

2018-02-09T18:00:58-05:00

I went the enlisted to officer route. I guarantee that is NOT the way to go since you hold a bachelor degree. I wholly agree with LCDR Matlow in that you should seek out an officer recruiter. If the Air Force Officer recruiter gives you the same answer as you received before, see the Navy recruiter next and etc.

Response by PVT Mark Brown made Feb 9 at 2018 7:30 PM

2018-02-09T19:30:43-05:00

Are you talking direct commission based solely on your degree? If so, why not OCS with a request for a specific branch or perhaps a branch transfer after being commissioned. I am just thinking Army based on my own experience.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2018 7:58 PM

2018-02-09T19:58:45-05:00

No need for a high-GPA STEM degree holder? That doesn't sound right. I say go Army, but I am biased.

Response by CW3 Jared Hickox made Feb 9 at 2018 9:12 PM

2018-02-09T21:12:27-05:00

I agree with LCDR Matlow. Do not do anything until you've researched your options fully. If your wish is to be an officer, I'd stay away from enlisting without the OCS route expressly stated in your contract.

Response by Maj Walter Kilar made Feb 12 at 2018 7:22 AM

2018-02-12T07:22:49-05:00

As a prior enlisted officer myself I would not deter you from enlisting before commissioning, but I would recommend getting another opinion from an officer accession recruiter if you have not done so already. The Air Force can always use an officer with a 3.8 GPA in mathematics. As an officer you could get into 61A Operations Research, try for a master's degree at AFIT, and eventually a PhD at Princeton through AFIT Pipeline. That is just one option of many available to a candidate with a 3.8 GPA in mathematics.

Going enlisted is not a bad option, but I would recommend gathering more data before making a big decision.

Response by Lt Col Marlon Ruiz made Mar 1 at 2018 11:31 PM

2018-03-01T23:31:33-05:00

Linda, kudos for wanting to join the USAF. Your story brings back personal memories of a similar story when I was asking myself the very same question decades ago, when faced with wanting to join and begin my active duty USASF career. The only difference between our stories is that I was a GS-5 civilian English Instructor (teaching local Puertorican islanders who had signed up with the Puerto Rico Army National Guard and were headed to the states to undergo their initial Army Basic Training but were not quite "up to par" on their English speaking/cognitive skills). I remember deciding to want to join the Puerto Rico Air National Guard (PRANG) while still serving as a civilian contracted GS-5 English Instructor with the Puerto Rico National Guard Bureau. When considering serving in a national guard position, there must first be an opening for the position to motivate the guard decision to recruit an individual to its ranks. Just like your Degree challenge, I found myself not being able to apply to be a commissioned officer aviator in the PRANG since there were no openings for aviators at the time (and I was even a licensed private pilot at the time as well). So the question then became, should i join anyway as an enlisted airman - considering that I was grossly over qualified for that recruitment effort - being a college graduate with a BS in Secondary Education and a minor in Physical Education teaching specialty as well. Long story short, I decided that I wanted to get started on accruing my service time - as I had already decided that I would be making a career of my time in the service for as long as they would have me (at least 20 years for retirement at the time). SO my two cents worth here are to reflect upon why you want to join and what do you expect to come of your service. The military has changed drastically since I retired from active duty back in 2007 but one thing that I can share here is the following.
The fact that you are even eligible to be recruited into the military is in and of itself awesome - as an estimated 80% of your peers will never qualify from one reason or another. Then there is the observation that from the remaining 20% or so that can qualify, only a handful will ever decide to join the military. This puts you among a very select and treasured few in my book. So may God bless you for considering to serve. I support you 100% and I am most positive that you will fulfill your personal destiny (wherever that may take you). One last recommendation, try looking into the National Guard and/or Reserves. There may be recruitment alternatives that can help you decide as to what you may want to do in serving your country. I know many fellow officers (your truly included) that began serving in the enlisted ranks and eventually crossed over to the commissioned officers ranks during our time in uniform. Good luck to you and please feel free to contact me anytime at [login to see] anytime, should you have any questions.

Response by CW5 Ivan Murdock made Mar 4 at 2018 8:24 AM

2018-03-04T08:24:17-05:00

Consider other branches:)